Homeless camp found on private property in Fort Myers

A homeless camp full of sex offenders was found on private property in a Fort Myers neighborhood. Now, they are being told to leave.

The sex offenders were found living in the woods off Veronica S. Shoemaker.

Police say at least six people were living in the woods for months. Their tents are still up; their belongings where they left them.

But on Wednesday night, the group of homeless people are being told to pack up and leave.

"I know they were back here for about six or seven months," said Fort Myers resident Terry Sykes.

You can find their camps if you follow the North Colonial Linear Trail; then head to the woods.

Police say some of the people living there are registered sex offenders. The camp site is roughly half a mile from Colonial Elementary School and the Sienna Vista Lake Apartments.

"It makes you think about when you come in and out of your house. We're right on the corner, so close by," said Taryn Paden, Fort Myers.

The property is private. Therefore, the owner asked police to give them trespass notices.

Authorities did just that on Wednesday – giving them until Tuesday to leave.

"We knew they had belongings with them. Whether its personal affects, clothing, tents, we couldn't just get there today and say you gotta be gone today. There's just no way for them to get that stuff out of there. They didn't have the means," said Captain Jim Mulligan, Fort Myers Police Department.

In the meantime, Animal Services was called to take in two dogs they say were malnourished and in distress. Officials say their owners were irresponsible and the living conditions were less than ideal.

"It's one of those things we'll have to go back there again and walk through the woods and try to check on the location," said Mulligan.

We were told they have been living there for months. Some of them are registered sex offenders in an area close to parks and homes.

"The sense of having a sex offender there creates a higher level of awareness and a high level of concern for the residents," said Mulligan.

The Homeless Coalition is working with police to try and find somewhere else for these people to go.

Police say if the group is not off the property by Tuesday, they could be arrested.